jn1356 Reviews

Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! (1967)

Sandra Dee as a would-be professional singer who is (Oops!) pregnant, with three potential dads...

[8/10 · 22 February 2005]

I rate this movie this highly because it does extremely well exactly what it sets out to do--provide a couple of hours of entertaining fluff. In the wake of the news of the death of Sandra Dee, I was asked for my favorite Sandra Dee movie, and I realized this is it! The ever-delightful Celeste Holm and the protective stage mother, George Hamilton too perfect as the snotty boss, the late Bill Bixby, for whom I'll never stop mourning, the sweet friend wanting to help out, and an enjoyable appearance by Mort Sahl, a groundbreaking comedian of the time who now is, unjustly, almost completely forgotten.

A movie that does what it sets out to do and does it well deserves praise, and this one has mine.

Today, Sandra Dee joins my "eternal mourning" list.

Se7en (1995)

Expect the unexpected.

[10/10 · 14 September 2002]

The TV was my babysitter when I grew up. I know all the plots, all the twists. When a movie surprises me, it's a cheat, a fraud, a deus ex machina. Or brilliant.

This movie is brilliant. Not a slow moment, a gory movie that is not a gore-fest, a shocking movie which does not rely on FX for shock, plot-driven, character-driven, absolutely brilliant. There are no loose ends, no descents into cliche. I thought that was where we were going: the hard-bitten veteran sparring with, and eventually becoming best friends with, the naive newcomer. But no!

I've said very little about the movie. I don't want to give anything away. SEE IT!

The Princess Diaries (2001)

Will fame and glory spoil the invisible girl?

[11 August 2001]

When Anne Hathaway's name came up first in the opening credits, my wife and I first thought, "Who is this infant, and how does she deserve to be billed above Hector Elizondo and Julie Andrews?" The answer is she is an amazingly talented actress who flawlessly carries a delightfully charming film! She is in almost every scene, and she does better than hold her own with Elizondo and Andrews. Check out the scene near the beginning where she is making faces at herself in the mirror, trying to see if she likes any look! What adult has the courage to be filmed doing that? Anne Hathaway is fearless!

The movie itself is better than fluff. But not a lot. It is nothing life-changing. It is cute.

Julie Andrews has done much better. She did better than phone it in. But not much. Still, she is Julie Andrews, and who better to play the regal Queen?

Hector Elizondo is one of my favorite actors, but he had little with which to work here, though not as little as he did in "The Runaway Bride". But I don't think he stretched any thespian muscles here either.

My recommendation? Go see it NOW! Remember the name Anne Hathaway. I hope she will be around for a long time. If her skill increases with age and experience, I can't wait to see it!

Shrek (2001)

How "The Frog Prince" should have been told!

[9/10 · 24 May 2001]

Shrek is miraculous!

First, you should not be allowed to see any other movie until you have FEASTED your eyes on this animation! I finally got tired of saying, "How did they DO that?"

Second, it is so clever. When they get around to the obvious jokes, they do them brilliantly! For instance, when Shrek finally gets around to saying, "I have to save my ass," you WON'T groan. You'll be delighted. The gross stuff comes off as cute. You won't be grossed out, and you won't be embarrassed in front of your precocious little ones.

Third, if you were not captain of your football team, head cheerleader, or any kind of golden child (in other words, 99.9% of us) you will LOVE the ending.

No more hints. GO SEE THIS MOVIE! NOW!

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

No finer story-telling in the movies!

[9/10 · 24 May 2001]

I've never been in the military, I've never been in prison. I read books and watch movies. When I meet people who know the inside of either institution, I ask them, "Is such-and-such a movie accurate?"

Whether "Shawshank" is accurate or not, I cannot find out! My friends who know prisons don't watch movies! But "Shawshank" is cinema storytelling at its finest. If you love a good story, and can handle some of the rougher things in life, this is your movie.

The choice of Morgan Freeman for the narrator, Red, was inspired. But I'm beginning to wonder if casting Morgan Freeman is ever less than inspired at any time, for any part. His warm voice and gentle accent is impossible not to listen to. I think that voice could keep your attention reading the dictionary aloud. His face is always interesting. If Morgan Freeman is in a movie, I'm willing to give the movie a chance.

This is the second Tim Robbins movie I ever saw. And this is quite a departure from his "Nuke" LaLouche in "Bull Durham". His performance is intelligent, understated, intense. He is a great movie actor--he doesn't need to speak to communicate volumes.

But the real star of "Shawshank" is Stephen King. He has become the premier storyteller of our day. He puts words together to make magic like no one I've ever read. And his stories translate so well to the screen. "Stand By Me" proved it. "Shawshank" confirms it. All hail, Stephen King!

If you haven't seen "The Shawshank Redemption", do so. Maybe, like me, you'll be looking to buy the video for your small collection of movies to be seen over and over again.

Hannibal (2001)

Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling meet again!

[6/10 · 17 April 2001]

If "The Silence of the Lambs" had not been such a great movie, "Hannibal" would surely get higher ratings. It suffers by comparison. It is not the great movie "Silence" is. But it is a fine movie. Remarkably true to the book. But with a better ending!

If Jodie Foster hadn't set the mark in "Silence", I would have been more impressed with Julianne Moore's performance. I am very nearly in love with Julianne. I didn't expect much from her after I saw "Boogie Nights", but she stunned me in "The End of the Affair", one of the most thought-provoking movies I have ever seen. However, I wish I could have seen Jodie reprise Agent Starling. I think Jodie would have brought the boiling intensity of Agent Starling through far better.

Good movie! Not great, but very good.

Wonder Boys (2000)

A professor of creative writing must face up to a host of catastrophes in one weekend

[7/10 · 17 April 2001]

How can a cast that includes Michael Douglas, Robert Downey Jr., Frances McDormand, and Tobey Maguire fail? Not a great movie, but very good, with excellent performances all around. Perhaps best of all, it doesn't assume the stupidity of the viewer. It leaves things unexplained, for the viewer to think about for some time to come!

Cast Away (2000)

A type-A executive for FedEx gets stranded on an island

[8/10 · 17 April 2001]

How can an actor reduce you to sobbing over his relationship with a volleyball? If you want to know, see "Cast Away". Tom Hanks is a wizard, and everything he touches, it seems, turns to gold. This is not a great movie, no competitor for the Best Picture Oscar. But Tom deserved his nomination for Best Actor! One fine, fine movie.

The Gingerbread Man (1998)

A Savannah GA lawyer misjudges a situation, and a girl, and finds himself in deep trouble.

[5/10 · 17 April 2001]

I expected more of Kenneth Branagh. It is a decent movie, on the low side of watchable. I prefer my suspense movies not to be predictable from the outset, which this was! We saw it for two reasons--Branagh and John Grisham. My final opinion was that Grisham wanted to try his hand at writing a screenplay, and he had the clout to get it produced. I hope his next screenplay will benefit from his first errors, as his subsequent novels have gotten better as his experience as an author grows.

Gettysburg (1993)

An epic retelling of the pivotal Civil War battle

[9/10 · 17 April 2001]

This is a life-changing movie. To have portrayed before me so graphically people literally risking their lives for a cause was humbling and daunting. When Col. Chamberlain ordered his Maine regiment, out of ammunition, to fix bayonets, stand up, and charge the Alabama Boys, I was awe-struck. When Gen. Pickett led his division across that field right into the Federal guns, when he led them to wholesale slaughter, and then had to report to Gen. Lee that his plan had failed so miserably, I was in tears. Gen. Lee was upset with Pickett's report, and tried to dismiss him, saying, "Gen. Pickett, see to your division," to which Pickett replied, huskily, "Gen. Lee, I have no division!" That line will stay with me all my life. This movie should be required watching for all Americans!